The Indian benchmark indices the BSE Sensex and the NSE Nifty 50 are set to open higher on Monday, tracking firm cues from Asian peers and positive trends in GIFT Nifty futures. At 6:50 AM, the GIFT Nifty was up 118 points, or 0.50%, at 24,265, signalling a positive start for domestic equities.

Investors will keep a close watch on assembly election results of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, which will be declared today. According to market analysts, political developments will play a crucial role in shaping near-term sentiment, with the West Bengal contest drawing the most attention amid a closely fought battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been in office since 2011.

“Today’s market direction will also be influenced by the outcome of key state elections. Investors will closely watch whether the ruling party at the Centre can wrest West Bengal from the Trinamool Congress and make meaningful inroads into opposition-ruled Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where the Bharatiya Janata Party currently has a limited presence,” said Hariprasad K, SEBI-registered Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth.

Market participants will also track developments around the Strait of Hormuz and the broader West Asia situation, along with movements in oil prices. In the commodities market, Brent crude initially fell about 2.5% to around $105 per barrel before rebounding above $108, underscoring ongoing volatility.

Firm Asian cues to support sentiment

Positive signals from Asian markets are likely to underpin domestic sentiment. Regional markets traded mostly higher in early deals, while caution prevailed in select pockets amid persistent concerns about geopolitical tensions and oil price volatility. Strong corporate earnings, particularly in the technology space, helped keep investor sentiment resilient.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.38%, while South Korea’s KOSPI rallied over 3%, emerging as one of the top gainers in the region on the back of strong earnings by tech companies. Taiwan’s Taiwan Weighted Index also maintained a strong undertone and was up 2.8% at the time of reporting. In Southeast Asia, Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.60%.

On the other hand, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 1.3%, while Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index reflected a bearish sentiment. Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged up marginally by 0.11% to 4,112.16, suggesting a largely range-bound movement.

Stocks to watch today

Q4 results: Aditya Birla Capital, Ambuja Cements, Ather Energy, Tata Technologies, Aarti Industries, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Exide Industries, Godrej Properties, Jindal Stainless, Manappuram Finance, Petronet LNG, Quess Corp, Sobha, Tata Chemicals, and Wockhardt will release their March quarter earnings today.

Vodafone Idea: Shares of telecom services provider will be in focus after the Department of Telecom (DoT) granted some relief to the debt-laden company with regard to its AGR dues.

Vikran Engineering, Urban Company, Baazar Style Retail: These three recently listed companies to see lock-in expiry today, unlocking shares worth over ₹1,231.51 crore. The release could increase market supply and weigh on near-term stock price movements.

Adani Enterprises: The Adani group flagship swung to a net loss of ₹220.7 crore in Q4 FY26, compared to a profit of ₹3,844.9 crore in the previous year. Revenue grew 20.3% YoY to ₹32,439.3 crore, while EBITDA remained flat at ₹3,731 crore. Consequently, EBITDA margin narrowed to 11.5% from 13.8% a year ago.

Kotak Mahindra Bank: The private lender reported a 13% year-on-year rise in net profit to ₹4,027 crore for the quarter. Net Interest Income (NII) increased 8% to ₹7,876 crore, compared with ₹7,284 crore in the same period last year.

Avenue Supermarts (DMart): The retail chain operator posted a net profit of ₹656.6 crore in the March quarter of FY26, marking a 19% growth from ₹550.9 crore reported a year earlier.

Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL): The company reported a mixed performance in Q4 FY26, with steady revenue growth but pressure on profitability. Net profit declined 20% YoY to ₹80.22 crore, down from ₹100 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

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